BCCI writes to ICC: Severe ties with countries emanating terrorism

After the Pulwama Terror strike that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans last week at the Kashmir Valley, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday expressed their concerns and sentiments ahead of the ICC events which include the impending World Cup 2019, through a letter. Board of Control for Cricket in India CEO Rahul Johri has written to ICC asking for security for of Indian players, officials, fans. BCCI in the letter urges the cricketing community to sever ties with countries from where terror emanates.

In an e-mail to the ICC, we have expressed our concerns about the terrorist attack that hastaken place. We are telling them that security of players and match officials should be appropriately taken care of,” CoA chief Vinod Rai said after a meeting with other CoA members and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri on Friday. “And number two, we must sever ties with nations from which such terrorism emanates. We will express our concern on an appropriate forum,”Rai said indicating that the matter will be raised at the ICC quarterly Board meeting in Dubai.

After the CoA members met in the Capital on Friday, they decided to take a call on how to approach the India-Pakistan World Cup match that is to be played in Manchester on June 16. While fans and some former cricketers like Sourav Ganguly had called for India to cut all sporting ties with Pakistan, others like former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar wanted Virat Kohli and boys to beat Pakistan in the game and pay tribute to the soldiers. But CoA chief Vinod Rai had earlier asked CEO Rahul Johri to draft a letter asking the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban Pakistan.

The letter wasn’t sent as it was widely believed that the BCCI isn’t in a position to ask the international body to suspend a member board with regards to political issues.India spinner YuzvendraChahal had made it clear that a strong statement must be passed. He said: “It’s not in our hands, if BCCI says, we will play if they say no then we won’t. I think it is high time, we need to take firm action. I am not saying all people there (Pakistan) are at fault but those who are responsible should be acted against.”